Best Ways to Stay Cool with Kids this Summer!

This weekend was hot and humid here in Southern California, which is NOT what we're used to! We spent a lot of time outside, celebrating birthdays with friends and family. I wanted to share a few tips on how to stay cool with the little ones this summer. 

1. Go to the pool! This is our favorite option for staying cool in the summer. We spent Saturday morning at the pool, and everyone not only cooled down but also got VERY TIRED :) And the icing on the cookie made Mayhem's tongue a lovely shade...

Little J and Mayhem at the Pool

2. Dress for the Humidity. Loose, lightweight clothing is best. Cotton clothing in light colors will help reflect the heat and allow your skin to breathe. The baby is modeling a romper for you below. 

Wear a romper to stay cool! :)

 3. Make it Fun. While we were at the OC Fair on Sunday afternoon, the boys enjoyed spraying each other (and us) with these mister fans! It really does help you feel cooler.

Image Source: Amazon.com

 4. Stay in the shade, and avoid being outdoors at the hottest time of the day. The later afternoon (around 4 pm) is the best time to be in the sun. So, wait until AFTER nap time to head outside to play with the water table! And be sure to put an umbrella over the play area if possible.

and last, but definitely not least...

Image source: http://www.cmfe.org/

5. Stay hydrated. Be sure to have the kids drink lots of water, so that no one gets dehydrated! Drink before you're thirsty and eat fruit which also helps your body replenish the water it needs.

What do you do to keep cool?

June 2015 - Time flies...

Where has June gone?! We celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary, at a restaurant with our three young boys. We laughed, and convinced each other that we would TRULY celebrate at a later point this summer. We also celebrated graduations, birthdays, Father's Day, and the end of the school year. Mayhem survived his first year of preschool, and J finished 1st grade! He's reading now and tying his shoes- so we've checked those milestones off the list. Mayhem grew about 6 inches this year, from the before and after pictures- I just can't get over it! And of course, the glasses make him look quite different from the beginning of the year.

On the left: First day of preschool. On the right: Last day!

On the left, first day of 1st grade. On the right, last day!

The baby got more teeth... and he's 11 months old today! He's crawling everywhere, and quickly! He also pulls himself up on the coffee table, so I imagine he'll be walking before we know it. 

Teething is hard...

I took these pictures, as he sat on my stomach on the couch at the end of a very long day. It's very, very hard to make everyone happy with three boys going in three different directions. Liam has found that it works best to crawl on top of me, pin me down, and yell in my face. Can you see his giant new tooth in the middle photo?! It's absolutely crazy how many teeth this child has at his young age! 

Now I'm planning his 1st birthday party, and I can't believe how fast time flies...

Ideas in my head...

This weekend, the hubs worked Saturday morning- so I was determined to spend at least some time working in the yard, together, as a family. It's good for us to be outside, and since we live in southern California the weather doesn't prevent it very often. Plus, my OB said I desperately need Vitamin D. This weekend was beautiful and sunny, of course. So after the lawn was mowed, we decided to trim the citrus trees. 

In my head, I thought, "Oh perfect, the kids can help pick oranges and lemons and we can juice them." In reality, hubs chopped off a huge limb of our orange tree... which has massive thorns... and tried to get the boys to grab some oranges for me to juice. Of course, the first thing out of their mouths is, "MOM!" They need a bowl, they need gloves, they need a break... and does this count as a 'chore'? Because then they each need a dollar too. oh brother. 

Then it's time to juice! They both want to help, so I get my toes smashed by kitchen chairs as they both clamber to the counter where I'm trying to quickly peel what seems like 100 citrus fruits... "I get to go first!" "NO! It's MY TURN!" "Move over, I can't reach!" "MOM!" Why did this seem like a good idea?! The first orange I tried to peel squirted a stream of fresh orange juice straight into my eye, leading to a messy mascara run and trying to explain to my 3 and 5 year old boys what happened. "Just give me a minute, OK?! Don't touch the juicer!" "Why?" "What happened?" "What's wrong with your eye?" "I want to make JUICE!" 

After that all calms down, we juice all the oranges and get like 3 glasses of fresh orange juice and 2 cups of lemon juice. oh yes, that was TOTALLY worth it. In my head, I envisioned sitting outside with a fresh glass of lemonade with two smiling children playing happily in the sun... 

oh well, this is my reality, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Spring Break in Maui - Part 1

When we decided to take a trip to Maui for Spring Break 2013, I must admit that I had mixed feelings about it. I wanted to go, of course! But I wasn't sure how the trip would go with our two youngest travelers, ages 2 and 4. Yes, we had travelled together before. We visit the family in New Jersey each year, but we do not stay in a hotel. We stay at my parents' house. All of us, in one hotel room, well that hasn't historically gone very well. Usually, Mayhem keeps us up. The last time we all slept in one room was MLK Day, this year. And I was up. all. night. So here is a summary of our family vacation, and hopefully some useful tips.

One of those days...

Yesterday was one of those days... One of those days where I found out, after being at work all day- that I still had the tag on my new blouse. One of those days where I had so much to do that I couldn't get out of work on time. One of those days where when I got home, the work was just beginning. One of those days where Little J cried over everything, and I wanted to. Here's to today, and hoping it's one of those days that's a little better than yesterday.

Mickey Mouse Birthday Party

Saturday was Mayhem's 2nd birthday. We celebrated with a Mickey Mouse themed birthday party, and it was a success! I wanted to share what we accomplished, so you could easily do this too!

First, I knew there we some things that I would want to order online- so I started there. I ordered the invitations from Crafts by Jillian, which I am in love with!

Quick and Healthy Snacks for Preschoolers

Little J is somewhat of a challenge when it comes to eating 'meals'. He is not very interested in eating, sometimes I wonder if he would eat at all if not for me! This post is as much for me, as for you. I've gathered a few snack ideas that are quick and easy. Yogurt and applesauce are my old standbys, but he's been refusing me by saying, "I had that already." So I've attempted to mix it up a bit.

A Long, Wonderful, Family-Filled Weekend

This past weekend was a great one. We got to spend a lot of quality time together as a family, and we did some really fun activities! I personally had a 4 day weekend, which was sooooo needed. Here's a run down of the weekend's main events.

Saturday: How to Train Your Dragon, Live Spectacular. My MIL took us to Anaheim to see this amazing show. It was truly astounding what they were able to do! The dragons breathed real fire, flew, and interacted with the actors. It's a cute story to begin with, and if you have not seen the movie I highly recommend it. Of course, we had to bring home a dragon toy to commemorate the occasion. Little J LOVED it! I think we all enjoyed it a lot more than we originally imagined. It was a 2 hour show, so I wouldn't recommend bringing really little ones.

[caption id="attachment_1110" align="aligncenter" width="384"] J had so much fun![/caption]

Sunday: We got up early and headed to Disneyland. We were unaware of the Tinkerbell Half Marathon that was going on in the morning, and it took us half an hour to get from the freeway exit to the parking lot. But, when we finally got into CA Adventure- we secured FastPass tickets to the World of Color show at 8 pm. Then we went on a few rides, and checked into our hotel. Disney's Grand Californian has bunk beds in the rooms, and the boys LOVED them! It's also just a gorgeous hotel, and you get into the Disney parks an hour early when you stay there.

[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="384"] Mayhem is hard to catch SITTING STILL ... this was the best I could do![/caption]

We went to dinner for my cousin's birthday, then we went to see the World of Color. My husband had been pressing to see this for a long time- I wasn't really that interested. But this too exceeded my expectations! It was water special effects, Disney music, scenes from Disney movies projected on the water... hard to explain. I'll just say that I was skeptical, but I very much enjoyed the experience. It was crowded, but we left the boys with my parents so we got to enjoy a little 'adult' time.

Monday: We got up at 6 am and headed to CA Adventure at 7 am. We did this so we could get on Radiator Springs Racers before the line got too long. I thought this ride was really well done, and exciting. J told me, "I will NEVER go on that again. It was TOO FAST!" Oh well, at least we didn't wait 2 hours for him to tell me that. We spent the rest of the morning at the park, then headed back to the hotel for brunch with the characters. I was so happy that the boys weren't too afraid! When we see them in the park, neither of them wants to get too close. But J gave Pluto a big hug, which was so adorable.

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="aligncenter" width="384"] I can NEVER get him to approach the characters! I was so happy that he gave Pluto a hug :)[/caption]

Monday afternoon, we drove home and the boys were exhausted. They both took naps, and I cleaned out the car and got ready for the week. All in all, a very fun weekend! Hopefully this coming weekend will be a bit more relaxing- but I can't complain. I think the girls (Mollie and Kallie, the dogs) will be happy if we stay home ALL WEEKEND.

[caption id="attachment_1111" align="aligncenter" width="384"] Everyone was tired. Great time to snuggle.[/caption]

What did you do this weekend?

5 DIY Valentine’s Day Treats for Kids

This Valentine's Day since Little J is in school, I wanted to put together some treats for the kids. I wanted SIMPLE, and something that we could make together. Below are some DIY Valentine treats for those important people in your life — from your sweetheart, neighbor or co-workers, even your child’s teacher. There are so many great DIY Valentine ideas this year, here are a few of my favorites:

[caption id="attachment_1084" align="aligncenter" width="240"] Image Source[/caption]

Rice Krispie Treats - Use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make this delicious treat into a Valentine’s Day treat.

Chocolate covered pretzels - Can you tell that my kids are into sprinkles? This is another treat that you can decorate with Valentine’s Day sprinkles.

Marshmallow pops - Instead of cake pops, try marshmallow pops! You can use white chocolate, and decorate with festive pink/red/hearts sprinkles.

[caption id="attachment_1087" align="aligncenter" width="320"] Gluten Free! Image source[/caption]

Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies - Super easy, and fun for the kids to decorate.

Goody bags for any of the items above - Jaime and Jacinda from Prudent Baby have some adorable free printables up on their site. 


Get the kids involved, and enjoy this Valentine's Day!

2013 New Year's Resolutions

Image source: www.bostinno.com

Each year in January, we 'reset'. We try to realign our ideals with our reality. I normally don't truly set resolutions for myself. But this year, I've decided to give it a try. You can keep me honest, and call me out. Here goes!

Three Adorable (and No-Sew) Toddler Halloween Costumes

I am not very crafty. I'll pause and wait while my sister and mother stop laughing...still waiting...still waiting...OK, now if you are still trying to figure out what to dress up your toddler as for Halloween, I have scavenged the internet and found some cute ideas. I will warn you that I have been looking for little boy Halloween costumes, but a couple of these would work for boy or girl. Enjoy!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Baby Frankenstein[/caption]

1. Baby Frankenstein - Instructions for this adorable Frankenstein can be found at www.parenting.com  Super easy! 

2. Pumpkin - This mom posted a sweet video of her son, with instructions on how to make this simple, no-sew pumpkin costume.

Source: halloweenmaskscostumes.com via Keri on Pinterest

3. “Up Costume” - This is the most adorable costume I found. Very simple, you can make it at home. Everyone would know what this is- which is important for a costume, in my opinion! 


And for those of you who are more crafty than I am (believe me, that will be most of you)- here is a cute idea that works for boys or girls. It does involve a bit of sewing, but not very much! Our office did this concept last year for Halloween, and I tried it on Baby Mayhem just for kicks. Pretty cute!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="227"] Garden Gnome costume[/caption]

BONUS COSTUME: Garden Gnome - This costume is pretty easy, you just have to make the hat. You can decorate it however you'd like- jeans and a plaid shirt work well for the outfit. Very inexpensive, and adorable!


 

Are you dressing up your toddler? Show me pictures! 

Taking Time Out

It's been a hot summer in So Cal. We've all been complaining about the heat, and looking forward to Fall. Knowing that 'fall weather' here is anything under 72 degrees, or 'gasp' even potentially some RAIN! We haven't taken advantage of living 10 minutes away from the beach this summer. We've been busy, caught up, working, sick, you name it. There have been weekends where I felt trapped, unable to get out of the house at all.

This weekend, I told my husband that we should head to the beach. I said, "It will be good for our souls." I'm sure he thought I was crazy- but sometimes I just need to get out of the house! So we packed up the boys, and headed west. We spent the morning in Laguna Beach, playing in the sand and just enjoying being outside.

[caption id="attachment_937" align="aligncenter" width="420"] Laguna Beach, California - October 2012[/caption]

It was so nice to see them all smiling, and enjoying each other. It made me take a deep breath, and remember that THESE GUYS are what is important. How do you take 'time out' with your family?

How I Handled My Oldest Child Going to Preschool

Little J makes me so proud. He started preschool, and there were no tears… from him. I tried to take some of those classic ‘first day’ photos on our porch. Except, trying to explain the ‘look over your shoulder’ pose to a 4 year old turned out to be much more difficult than I had planned for.

[caption id="attachment_923" align="aligncenter" width="600"] sure, that works. not what I was thinking, but it works.[/caption]

Then, I loaded him into the car and spent the ride explaining how he was going to school and STAYING at school- and that I would see him later. He told me that you're not supposed to turn right on red (seriously). When we arrived, he marched into the classroom to take a look. He was a bit nervous at first, but then he folded right into the routine with the other kids. He was bubbling with excitement when he got home, so I asked him a few questions.

Me: Who was your favorite kid? J: All of them.

Me: What did you do today? J: Played with kids. Had a snack.

Me: Did you make anything? Or sing any songs? J: Yeah, we made fish. But they had glitter on them, so I didn’t bring it home ‘cuz it would be too messy.

Getting nowhere fast. Guess I’ll have to be content to hear it all second-hand. But he’s really enjoying his half-days at school. They celebrated his birthday, and he got a crown to wear for the day. He had ‘share day’, or ‘show and tell’ to children of the 80's. And he brought a T-Rex, of course.



It made me a little sad to leave him there. It’s a strange feeling, and I know many parents have to leave their children when they are much younger… but it was a first for me! I never cried before I had kids, and there I was crying in my minivan before leaving him at school for his first day! Children have destroyed me!

Have you cried more since you had kids?

My New Stroller - Chicco Liteway

I'm not new at this 'mom' thing anymore. I have TWO kids, and I've had numerous strollers- don't get my husband started on the topic. I have the BOB Revolution, it's endured both boys and I wouldn't trade it for the world. BUT I also have a need for a lighter, more portable stroller to keep in my car. I previously had the Combi lightweight stroller- but it didn't wear well. It was difficult to steer amongst other issues, and after 4 years it was driving me crazy.

So, I took advantage of the Babies R Us "Great Trade In" where you get 25% off a new stroller or carseat if you traded in your old one. I happily handed in my Combi, and purchased a Chicco Liteway.

[caption id="attachment_875" align="aligncenter" width="410"] Image Courtesy of Target: http://www.target.com/p/chicco-liteway-stroller-in-fuego-red/-/A-11120093 [/caption]

And well, I am in love. This stroller is sturdy, easy on the eyes, and moves so much easier than my previous one. I had to share. One of my complaints about the prior stroller was that I had no where to hang my purse- and the handles on this stroller serve that purpose. It also folds up easily, and steers effortlessly. It reclines, and can even support a newborn. I am impressed. The only small downside is the basket, which isn't very large. But since I can hang things on the handles, that makes up for it- in my humble opinion. Bonus: it's WAY cheaper than a Maclaren!

What about you- do you have a stroller (or other baby gear item) that you LOVE?!

Labor Day Weekend 2012

This year, my family spent nearly a week in beautiful Wall, New Jersey. I will do a separate post on the two-day, multi-family picnic and trivia extravaganza. But before any of that happened, we got to spend a few days relaxing with my family.

One of the reasons that Little J loves going to Grandma's house is THE POOL! Mayhem joined in the fun this year, since he's an expert from swim class. His favorite activity was jumping off the side of the pool, into the arms of whomever was closest! He doesn't even worry about what could happen, he leaves that to his mother.

[caption id="attachment_837" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Uncle John with Mayhem, and Little J behind them[/caption]

We spent an evening at the Jersey shore boardwalk. Our family's favorite spot is the Jenkinson's Arcade in Point Pleasant, NJ. The pizza is enormous, the ice cream is real, the salt water taffy is a classic - and I love it all!

[caption id="attachment_840" align="aligncenter" width="480"] Auntie Kim![/caption]

Last year, we took up all the seats at the games so that Little J would win a prize. This year, it was Mayhem's turn. Little J got to use all the tickets we won to claim prizes at the arcade, so don't feel too bad for him.

[caption id="attachment_838" align="aligncenter" width="480"] BIG Winner. He sleeps with the Angry Bird now![/caption]

The trip was a great end to our summer. Each year, I realize how much has changed since the last time we were there. And each year, I realize how little has changed since the last time we were there. Can't wait for next year!

August Bluum Box

I finally received my August Bluum box. This subscription service provides samples geared towards babies (0-12 months) and mommies. While both of my boys are older than 12 months, I wanted to give this company a try! First of all, the packaging is adorable- good work ladies! Below is a description of the items that I received.

1. Hip Peas (0.5 oz. sample size)- This company provides natural hair products for little kids. Their products are environmentally friendly, and they also give 10% of their profits to child-focused charities. Hip Peas is their balm, which I would love to try- but my children have the shortest, fairest hair you've ever seen. I may need to borrow a friend's daughter to test!





2. Caldrea Hand Soap- Caldrea provides quality, earth-friendly products and uses essential oils and plant-derived ingredients. The website says that they sell these products at Target, I am definitely going to give some of the cleaning products a try!





3. Amalou Skin Care (2 0.5 oz sample sizes)- This is the first and only full maternity skin care line. These products work to balance, cleanse and moisturize to provide a healthy glow during pregnancy! The Bluum box included an exfoliating face wash and a detoxifying tonic. I'm glad that I know this exists!





4. Triple Cream (full 2 oz. size)- At first, I thought this was Triple Paste- which I have used on both my boys to clear up nasty diaper rash. This is different though- Triple CREAM. This product is formulated to deliver a blend of healing ingredients to provide relief for dry skin or eczema. My older son actually has eczema, and from a quick test of this product- it very nourishing, and it doesn't leave a film. I'll be keeping this one in his room!





5. Mary Kay Lash Love Mascara and Oil-Free Makeup Remover- What's nice about Bluum is that they include items for Mommies too! I was happy to see this Mary Kay pack in my Bluum box! I have actually never tried Mary Kay- so this is a first for me!





All in all in think this is a good subscription service. I like that there was a full size item (Triple Cream), and I like that it had items for me AND the kids. The packaging is nice, and there were several discounts included in the box. And the price is right! I stopped getting the Citrus Lane box because it was a bit pricey. I also suggested that they include 'big kids' in the subscription- and I was told they are working on it! Good work, Bluum!!

Oh, I almost forgot to mention- the Wittlebee kids clothing club. A discount card was included, which also explains how the service works. For $39.99/month, they ship $100 of new kids clothing items to your house with free shipping. For each order, they donate a onesie to a nonprofit. Cute idea, but I prefer to shop for clothes!

OC Fair 2012

Each year, our family makes sure to get in a visit to the OC Fair. My husband plots which new and exciting food he’ll try, and I wonder what (all of) my boys will be excited about this year! Last year, we rode an elephant, we won a fish, walked through an ice sculpture gallery and sampled fried Kool-Aid. This year, my husband tried chocolate-covered bacon, and J went on some rides all by himself!



It was fun to see Mayhem get out and enjoy the fair. Last year, he was only a few months old when we came! He liked the piglets, and LOVED all the food.

We stopped by the genealogy booth, and picked up a history of our last name. The print was matted, and has our family crest on it. Pretty interesting! Our family motto is apparently, “Conscious of no wrong”. Seems true! Whether that's a good thing, or a bad thing- that's to be debated.

We picked up a light switch cover, shaped like a stegosaurus. We had a giraffe print cover in J’s room from his nursery, and it was time to upgrade to his dinosaur room.

[caption id="attachment_810" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Stegosaurus Light Switch cover[/caption]

We also found a T-Rex at the fair, which J loved! He couldn't stop looking at it.

[caption id="attachment_806" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Wow...[/caption]

All in all, it was a great day. And admission for the entire family was $4, so you can’t beat that! Have you been to the OC Fair, or a local fair near your house? 

Weaning from the Pacifier

We went to the pediatrician for our 18-month check up on Friday, and he suggested that we get rid of Mayhem's pacifier by age 2. I swear, when the doctor said that- he scrunched up his face in disgust, as though he knew EXACTLY what the doctor was saying. The doctor suggested that I leave the pacifier in the crib, and the first time I tried that- Mayhem looked at me like I was crazy! It will be a process. I know I don't want him going to pre-school with a pacifier, but I wasn't thinking about taking the pacifier away from him at a certain age. J was, and still is, a thumb-sucker- so this is a first for me.

For now, I'm going to try to give him the pacifier only when he goes to bed, then gradually get rid of them. He LOVES his blanket, so hopefully he can get used to just being attached to that. I know he is dealing with some teeth right now, so once that is over I will focus more on the transition.

My husband was happy to hear the pediatrician's suggestion, because he feels that Mayhem will be able to start talking more without the pacifier on his mouth. It is hard to talk without having it fall out! Have you gone through this process? Do you have any tips to share?




Image courtesy: www.overstock.com

Day 3: TheCrazy Adventures of Staying Home with My Kids

Thursday- I decide to go 'low-key' today. We spend the morning playing with dinosaurs. 

Then we plan to meet a couple friends at the Ladera Water Park in the early afternoon. J loves the place, and I know that Mayhem will enjoy being in the water. So I pack up the van, and head over at 1 pm. J usually takes his nap around 2 pm, but I tell myself that we'll stay a few hours- and just take a late nap. I slather all three of us in sunscreen. I pack a bag of snacks, and a bag of toys. I stake out some lounge chairs... and I'm thinking we're doing well. It's hot, but we're OK. My friend brings her 'older kids'- they are 5 and 7 (Hi, Jen!). Usually, J stays RIGHT with me- but this time he's decided to venture off with them. During our periodic 'safety breaks'- I'm prepared with snacks and more sunscreen.

Then, it's time to go home. Besides the fact that I have lost some toys to the greater good... J does NOT want to leave. He loses his mind. This is not my child. He does not act like this. But, he is extremely tired... and it's 4 pm. I hand Mayhem to Jen- and begin to chase J through the water park. In my sundress. I end up dragging him part of the way, and threatening his life under my breath. I load up the stroller the best I can- and stick J in it. He's wet, wrapped in a towel, crammed in a stroller, and screaming. I hold my head up, put Mayhem on my hip- and march to the car.

Boy, was I ready to go back to work. I told my husband, "If I say that I want to stay home with them again, just let me. Then, ask me again after two days home with them. I bet I'll say 'nevermind, working's not so bad!'" He just laughed, but I wasn't joking. I love my children, but I'm not sure that I'm cut out to be home with them full-time. Could I do it? Yes. Would it be the best move for our family? Not likely. Brutal honesty.

Has anyone else had an eye-opening experience like this?!

The Crazy Adventures of Staying Home with My Kids: Day 1

Our childcare situation is a mix of methods. Mondays, my mother-in-law watches the boys at her house. Tuesday through Thursday, we have a babysitter come to our house and watch the boys. And on Fridays, I work every other Friday from home. I work a 9/80 schedule, which means that I work a 9 hour day and get every other Friday off! Anyway, our babysitter is on vacation. This means that I have spent the past three days at home with my children, and I have so much to say about it that I'm breaking up the post into three parts...

My normal routine on a Tuesday would be wake up at 6 a.m., and throw myself together to get on the road by 6:45 a.m. I wouldn't see the boys, or talk to anyone- just get in the car and go! This Tuesday, at 7 a.m. (wow- slept in!) J came in and informed me that it was morning and he needed to eat. I went downstairs to get him some food, and realized that my dachshund... was having issues. She has recurring 'issues'- so I knew right away that we'd need to head to the vet.

8 a.m.: I arrive at the vet's office, and realize that I have no leash. Since I don't want Mayhem to dash into the road, I attempt to carry him and the dog into the vet. I asked J to open the door for me, but I just got a blank stare. OK, fine, I put Mayhem down- and we head in. The boys run over to the table loaded with toys, and I get put in an exam room with Kallie (the dog). J doesn't want to come, so I let him stay in the lobby and play- but Mayhem had to come with me. He didn't want to. He starts wreaking havoc when the vet comes in to discuss things with me- climbing on the chair, dumping the brochures on the floor, tossing the books around, whining... I leave the dog, go back to the lobby. The vet comes out, we'll need to head home with two antibiotics and two creams which I need to apply for 14 days. Great, there goes $250.

9 a.m.: We have Little J's first dental appointment. I try to fill out paperwork BEFORE they kill each other over the toys in this waiting room. Thankfully, it's a pediatric dentist- so they hopefully have seen this before? I try to remember when the last time J was at the doctor... as Mayhem drags a stool over to the fish tank, and puts his chubby little hand on my clipboard, then points up, "FISH!" Yes, baby, fish. Then we sit down in the chair, and there is a movie playing- Mayhem wants to see the movie.





Then, we had lunch with Daddy. I realized that there isn't a lot of 'staying home' when you're 'staying home'... Finally, it was naptime. Sweet, sweet naptime. I spent my time decorating J's goody bags for his dinosaur party, and trying to organize myself for the party.





I made a birthday banner, so I can check that off the list. Now I have a pinata, which needs candy. Cupcakes that I will need to bake Friday, goody bags that need filling, and paper goods.

Baby steps, there's always tomorrow, right?!